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This Week in House History
The House historical highlights featured in This Week in House History are maintained by the Office of the Clerk's Office of History and Preservation. New highlights are added weekly. The collection, searchable by date or subject, includes more than 400 historical House events.
The Thanksgiving holiday
November 28, 1940
The establishing of the last Thursday of November as the legal holiday for Thanksgiving.
Representative Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., of New York
November 29, 1908
On this date, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., the first African American to represent New York in Congress, was born.
The historic 54th Congress
December 02, 1895
The 54th Congress convened a little more than a year after what proved to be a historic midterm election.
The Opening of the 34th Congress
December 03, 1855
On this date, Representatives badly divided over the slavery issue convened in the Old House Chamber (present-day Statuary Hall) to commence the 34th Congress (1855–1857).